(Welcome, N.C.) Walker and Associates, Inc., a prominent, woman-owned, national distributor of telecommunications products and network deployment services based in Welcome, N.C., has agreed to purchase the non-affiliate operating assets of Windstream Supply LLC, a subsidiary of Windstream Corporation, based in Little Rock, Ark. The purchase will include the hiring of Windstream Supply’s sales and marketing staff and inventories necessary to support Windstream’s substantial non-affiliate (non-Windstream telephone company) customers. In addition to its existing operations in Welcome, N.C. and Winston-Salem, N.C., Walker will operate a satellite sales and marketing office in Alpharetta, Ga., which is the current location of the acquired Windstream functions.

Following the transaction, Walker will be one of the nation’s largest services-oriented, telecommunications products distributors, with over 2,000 customers and over 200 manufacturer relationships. Walker’s customers will include incumbent broadband providers, wireless broadband providers, cable operators, competitive broadband providers, government entities, installation contractors and value-adding resellers. Windstream Corporation will retain product procurement and warehouse facilities necessary to service Windstream telephone company properties.

Virginia Walker, CEO of Walker, stated, “For nearly 40 years, Walker has been an innovator in customer-oriented supply and services to network operators. Our storied market strength is a great platform for leveraging this added scale.” Mark Walker, President of Walker, added, “This purchase extends our sales reach and provides us with desirable market diversification. Walker will have a broader range of customers, large and small, who can benefit from our robust suite of product deployment services.”

“This transaction provides a better strategic path for our supply business and allows Windstream to focus on our core communications business,” said Brent Whittington, chief operating officer for Windstream.

The transaction is expected to close later this month.

About Walker

Walker and Associates supports communications delivery technologies such as IP, VoIP, Ethernet, fiber, FTTX, BLC, MSAP, optical multiplexing, routing, point-to-point wireless, point-to-multi-point wireless, wireless amplification and WiMAX. In addition, Walker provides a host of physical plant products such as fiber/copper connectivity, power systems, indoor/outdoor enclosures and outside plant products.

In addition to supplying basic material, Walker offers the best in network deployment services, including product advice, quality installation, expert systems integration and unsurpassed customer service. In an advisory capacity, Walker helps network designers make wise product selection decisions for optimum network performance, scale and operating cost. In a hands-on capacity, Walker kits, integrates and installs products to help carriers efficiently deploy networks.

Walker performs important promotional, logistics, supply chain management and technical support services for its manufacturer base. Walker is TL9000/ISO 9000 quality certified, and is a certified woman-owned corporation. Headquartered in Welcome, NC, near Winston-Salem, the company is celebrating 39 years of success in 2009.